Chapter 3

  It Starts Like This: Part 3

  During his long campaign to quer the Shatter Realm, Abaddon acquired many es that bore his children. All of them share identical traits, Hair as dark as night and deep crimsohe man standing before him was no exception.

  Abaddon staggers backward. The realization that he had to pretend to be one of his children’s children was almost too much to bear.

  Abaddo dizzy. The more he thought about it, the sicker he became.

  “I guess you still haven’t recovered.” Aiden pces his hand on Anna’s head to check her temperature. “You don’t have a fever, but you should probably return to bed.” After a quick examination, Aiden waves Anna away and grabs Aaron, practically dragging him out of the house.

  “W-wait.” Aaron reached out to Anna, who was still in a daze. “I think sis wants to e with me!” Aiden stops and looks back at his daughter snapping her out of her stupor.

  “Did you fet our previous servation?” Aiden’s gre returned a memory that should in Abaddon’s mind. A memory of Aideling his daughter’s weak stitution and her inpete magic.

  “Look at you. The day just started, and you’re barely able to stand You’re unfit to bee a mage.”

  “Unfit?” Cocks her head amused. “I’ll show you not only am I fit to be a mage I’m overqualified.” Anna cps her hands together, trating the mana in her body on her palms. Slowly, she separated her hands, revealing a small ball of fire h in the air.

  Aiden’s eyes widen as he stares at the fme. Surprise, the little girl, who could barely manipute her mana, not only was casually able to cast a spell, but aal one.

  “Why so surprised? If you came home more, you would’ve noticed my growth.

  “Um, Anna?” Olive nervously steps forward. “You shouldn’t talk to your father like that.”

  “It’s fine.” Aiden pces his hand on Olive’s shoulder. “You’re right. I should’ve paid more attention to your progress. I’m sorry.” Aiden’s monotone voice made it impossible for Anna to tell if he was being genuine, and even if he was, she didn’t care.

  “So, have I proven myself?”

  “That not for me to decide. You’ll have to prove yourself to the headmaster.” Aiden walked out of the room, still dragging Aaron. Before disappearing around the er, he gnces back at Anna, gesturing for her to follow him. Just as Anna was about to follow the two, Olive grabbed her daughter’s shoulders.

  “Please remember to take care of yourself.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Anna shrugs off Olive’s hands and chases after Aiden and Aaron.

  “Don’t overdo it!” Olive yells at Anna, who rushes out of the house into the .

  Houses simir in design to Anna’s home lihe street. In the middle of the snow-cake road a rge group of children-led soldiers dressed in olive green military uniforms silently march towards the mountain rahat loomed over the eown.

  Anna’s memories told Abaddon that it was tradition for soldiers to marew mages across the city towards the academy.

  “Anna!” Aiden called out to his daughter from the other side of the street, snapping her out of her thoughts.

  Anna pushed through the crowd to reach the other street pushing past anyone in her way. “Sorry, I got distracted,” Anna said iween gasps for air. The small ru her breathless and exhausted.

  “You need me to carry you?”

  “I’m fine.” Anna brushes past Aiden and tinues dowreet; her face flushed red from embarrassment and frustration. She cursed as the edge of her vision darkened; she khis was a sign that she was about to bck out. Her body slumps forward Aiden scoops his daughter into his arms before she hit the snow.

  “It’s good to have pride in yourself, but if you don’t uand your limits soon, I’ll take you bae.” Aiden looked down at his daughter with an expression that said, ‘Don’t argue.’ Anna closed her mouth to keep her boiling anger in check, knowing that gaining information from the academy was more important than proteg her pride.

  “Are your kids going to the academy?” A young woman called out from her porch, breaking the tense sileween the family. The woman carefully climbs dowairs, gingerly avoiding the i her steps. Three boys around Aaron’s age follow behind the woman.

  “My children start this year. Maybe they be friends with you-“The woman froze wheiced the crimson glow in Aiden and Anna’s eyes. “Actually, never mind.” The woman grabs her children’s arms and races dowreet.

  Aiden pulled Aaron closer to him as they merged with the other people in the silent march. The line tio grow longer as more kids and even some adults join in.

  A palpable tension hung over everyone, growing thicker the closer they got to their destination. Suffering from the brunt of the nervous energy that coursed through the crowd, Aaron tightly g to his father’s leg, sensing furtive stares from people around him. “Why is everyone looking at us so weirdly?”

  “Do you see anyone else with glowing red eyes? To them, we might as well be exotiimals.” Anna said unbothered by everyone’s cold gaze. Even in his past life people used to look at him with disgust in fear, although that quickly ged once he took the throne.

  As they reached the end of the slope road. A massive storucture that looked more like a castle than an academy stood in the shadow of the mountains. Several green banners hung off the roof ‘Wele to Dys’ Aegis Academy’ written in bright gold letters.

  Everyone walked through the steel gates and down several well-shoveled roads, eae leading to an emerald statue of a winged woman that stood in front of the academy.

  The children broke apart from the crowd and gathered he statue. Aiden pushes Aaron towards a group of children around his age. Aaron g to his father, refusing to let go.

  “o be afraid. This school is going to help you bee stronger.”

  “B-But.” Aaron stammers. Spending most of his life at home with his mother and sister, bei alone in an unfamiliar pce was far too terrifying for him.

  Seeing the fear in his son’s eyes, Aidely pced his hand on his son’s head. “It’s time to man up and make yourself useful for once.” Aiden’s cold gaze made him tremble as he looked up at his father, wanting to cry but afraid that would only make him angrier.

  “Rex, I’ll be joining you soon.”

  “Don’t be so certain; you’ll have to impress the headmaster.” Aiden turned his harsh gaze to his daughter, whed it off aed, “I’ll be joining you soon.” Seeing the fiden his sister’s eyes, Aaron wiped the tears away and steeled himself for what awaited.

  “!” A gu off immediately, destroying Aaron’s newfound fidence. Soldiers march across the snowy field carrying a fg of a bird whose wings are bound by s. A somber melody fills the air as the soldiers approach the statue.

  Aiden carried Anna from the statue towards where the parents were gathering. The crowd had mixed emotions; some were proud to see their sons and daughters enter such a prestigious academy. Others were worried about leaving their kids alone in an academy that also operated as a military base. Some were just curious, using the rare ce the academy gates were open to see the mages.

  The parading soldiers stopped. Creating a lihat fnks both sides of the students. The soldiers face forward, staring directly ahead at the statue. The somber melody turns into a triumph harmony as three more figures step onto the field carrying the fg of a bird breaking free from its s. A stern-looking woman with fiery red hair tied in a loose ponytail led the march. Behind her was a blonde-haired man whose expression was just as dour as hers. His cold blue eyes s the students, weeding out the capable and the weak. Behind him was a balding old man who stuck out like a sore thumb. Unlike everyone else who wore a green uniform, he wore a yellow suit that barely fits his plump frame. A dozen medals were adorned on his outfit, proof of his long and successful military career. The old maically waves to the crowd with a goofy smile until the red hair jabbed him in the side. The old man immediately straightens his bad walks awkwardly onto the stage with a stiff smile.

  The music stopped, and everybody waited in anticipation for the words that would open the academy this year.

  “Wele, to Dys’ Aegis Academy!” The old man shouted. Fireworks soar into the air exploding into a myriad of colors that brighten the dark m sky for a brief instant. “My name is Ozn Witts, the proud headmaster of this academy.” After the introdu, Ozn paused and sed the children before him. Some of them were attentive and eager, most nervous, and fearful.

  “I know many of you don’t want to be here. In fact, many of you were forced to join because of your potential. It would be cruel of me to say you should be hohat you were chosen. So instead, I ask you to uand.” Ozn points to the academy behind him as he tinues his speech.

  “Behind this building, beyond these mountains, is a nd uncimed by man, teeming with aberrations called spirits. Further still lies the try o, ruled by svers who worship the Lord of Order: Orcus. We are the first and only line of defense against these threats who wish to harm our beautiful nation.

  “Orcus…” Anna angrily bit her nail at the mention of the Celestial name. While the other kids trembled in fear, even those who joined voluntarily weren’t aware of the daunting task that awaited them.

  “I won’t lie to you. There’ll be hard times. But know that you’re not alone on this journey. While we’re here we’ll be your teachers, guardians, and in time, hopefully a friend.” A warm smile spread on his face.

  “Many of my peers will ask you to fight and die for honor or for leaders you never meant. I don’t expey of this from you. In fact, I don’t want you to do that. What I do want is for you to see this pce as more than some military academy that teaches you how to fight and kill, but rather a school where you learn and grow, where you make friends and have fun. And if a time es when you have no choice but to fight, I want, I hope you fight for your rades, for your friends you made at this academy, and most importantly, for your loved ones who are waiting for you bae.” Ozn csped his hands, white vapor slipping from his lips as he took a deep breath.

  “It’s pretty chilly out here, So, I’ll end this by saying I hope you enjoy your stay at Dys’ Aegis Academy.”

  The crowd erupted in cheers as Ozn walked off towards the academy, along with the blonde and redhead that fnked his side. Fireworks again flew in the air, brightening the sky with colorful explosions.

  Anna bnkly watches everyone celebrate, her mind still on Orcus. The world around her suddenly bees a blur as Aiden dashes through the cheering crowd.

  “Hey, what are you doing?!”

  Aiden ignores his daughter’s shouting and weaves through the crowd, swiftly catg up to Ozn as he ehe building.

  “You know you don’t o carry me anymore!” Anna wiggled out of her father’s grasp and fell face-first into the snow.

  “Oh, are you okay?” A hand reaches out to Anna.

  “I’m fine.” Anna waves the hand away and forces herself back to her feet. The embarrassment from falling turned into bewilderment. The snow that should’ve been on her fad clothes was gone, and a soothing warmth washed over that felt strangely remi of the b she woke up in.

  Anna knew someone cast a spell on her, but she couldn’t believe that not only had she failed to se, but she didn’t see it happeher. fused, Anna looks around only to see a rotund man t over her. Ozn gave Anna a soft smile before turning his attention to her father.

  “Sorry to bother you, el.” Aiden bows slightly to Ozn, who awkwardly scratches the bald spot on his head.

  “Please, no need for formality. I’m just a principal. So, what do you need?”

  Aiden pushes Anna in front of him. “My daughter wants to enroll in the academy.”

  “Ha!” The blonde-haired man chuckles. “You want us to accept her? Didn’t you say once she has no talent as a mage?”

  “.” The blonde immediately closes his mouth the moment Ozn g him. “Sorry about that. Keep going. The headmaster said, still wearing his warm smile.

  “I’ll admit I thought she was incapable, but she has retly proven me wrong.” Aiden taps his daughter’s shoulder, whispering, “Go ahead, show them.”

  Anna sighs and examihe four adults, debating ell she should use.

  It would be strange if a girl whled to use magi the past could suddenly cast a high-level spell. Anna thought to herself as she raised her hands. She squinted her eyes and gritted her teeth to make it seem like she was struggling when truthfully, she was easily maniputing her mana. The energy seamlessly flowed out of her body and gathered between her palms, turning into a sphere of light.

  “That’s impressive.”

  “I’m not do.” Anna interrupted Ozn's praises and focused on the spell in her hand. The ball of energy flew into the air, exploding into a rainbow of lights like fireworks earlier.

  Ozn slowly cps while looking up at the lights in the sky. “Impressive, Anna; most mages ye barely cast spells. Not only have you passed the requirement to join this academy, but you’ve exceeded it.”

  “Sir!” The bloook a step forward. Ozn raises his hand once again, sileng him.

  “Cire.” The red-haired woman instantly straightens her posture at the mention of her name. “I’m sorry, but you hahe students for me?”

  “No problem, el.”

  “o be formal, I’m just a….” The headmaster's voice trails off, notig that Cire has already marched away, clearly not paying attention to him.

  “, check security, especially around the mountains. It's around this time of year that…” Ozn pauses. He looks down at Anna, trying to find the right words. “…people we don’t agree with tend to bee noisy.”

  gres at Aiden briefly before saying in a low growl, “Yes, sir.”

  Ozs out a sigh letting his chest defte before turning his attention to Aiden and his daughter. “Let’s discuss your enrollment, Anna.” The headmaster opens the desturing for the family to enter.

  Aers a warm, brightly lit hallway shaped like a T. A dark green banner hung off the ceiling saying, ‘Wele to Dys’ Aegis Academy’ or ‘Let's have a good year.’ The two adults walked ahead, leaving Anna behind before she could fully grasp her surroundings.

  “Anna shows quite a bit of talent with her manipution of magic. It’ll be a waste to start with the beginning course. I pn to put her in advanced csses if she joins the academy. Is that okay with you?”

  Aiden nodded and looked at his daughter, who was falling behind. She peeked into every room and offi the hall. Hoping to find a pce that might have the information she desired.

  “You find anything iing?” The headmaster walks up to Anna, still wearing his smile.

  “Not yet,” Anna said, still looking through a window. Ozn chuckles, he ko look Anna in the eyes. “Maybe I help. Tell me what you are ied in. Why do you want to join the academy?”

  Abaddon fell silent, sensing Ozn's inquiry was some test. He wasn’t sure how much this man knew. For all he knows, he could’ve been the ohat trapped her in this body.

  “I want to find a cure for my siess.” Anna's chest tightens. It was a lie, but she could feel the body’s previous owner's frustration and anger with her siess welling inside.

  Ozn pats Anna on her head, sensing her distress. “You’re quite talented. I’m sure you’ll eventually find the cure.”

  “Of course I will.” Anna huffed. She spped the headmaster’s hand off her head and stormed off. Once she was a det distance from the adults, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

  This siess is annoying, but I didn’t e here to find a cure. All that matters is finding my body and learning the spell that trapped me in this one.

  After reaffirming what his true goal was, Abaddon rejoins the two adults with renewed vigor.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean t up a sore subject.”

  “It's fine.” Anna waved off Ozn’s apologies.

  Ozn worriedly studied her expression while opening the door beled ‘Headmaster Officers.’

  The office was small, the desk taking up most of the space. The walls were decorated with pictures of children posing in front of the academy. In the ter of the wall was a massive painting of a woman in a green dress walking up to ay throhed in green light. The back of her dress en, revealing her fwless por skin a-bck wings open wide like she reparing to take flight. Otom of the painting was the title ‘Our Lady in Jade.’

  “Ah, do you remember this, Aiden?” The headmaster chuckles as he points to a young boy with red eyes and bck hair. “You have ged so much sihen.

  Did he? Anna thought as she took a closer look. Everyone was either smiling or posing except Aideood stiff, wearing a stern expression that looked exactly like his current one.

  Yea, I see no difference.

  “ we get started?” Aiden stood he desk, waiting impatiently for the two to sit.

  “I’ll show you more of your dad's school pics ter,” Ozn whispered to Anna before sitting behind his desk. As the headmaster started shuffling through papers, Anna peered over his shoulder, searg for any clues that might expin what happeo her. Although deep down she knew, something so ve wouldn’t be found on a desk with studes. Eventually, her eyes fell upon what looked like a dar buried underh a pile of books.

  Realizing she wouldn’t find answers anytime soon, she decided to figure out how much time had passed after the battle at Adilvun.

  Anna carefully pulled the dar out of the pile and was greeted with a picture of a well-endowed woman in a bikini that seemed too small for her. Anna silently praises the headmaster’s taste before fog oes.

  The dar was set in the season of harvest. Anna didn't remember whely she unched an assault on Adilvun, but she khat it took pce during the summer. Which meant only a few months had passed. -Or at least that’s what Anna thought until she looked at the year.

  1220 A.S (After Shattering.)

  Anna banged against the desk. The weight of what she discovered made her faint.

  “Is everything okay? Ozn looks over at Anna. His eyes widened when he saw her holding the dar. “That’s not what you think it is!” The headmaster snatches the dar from Anna, his face flush red.

  “The dates, are they real?” Anna looked up at the headmaster, her face paler than usual.

  “Yea, it is.” Ozn embarrassment quickly turned into .

  Anna's mi bnk, uo prehend the current situation.

  It was year two hundred. Or, more precisely, two hundred years after the moon shattered into several pieces when Abaddon was at the height of his power and decred war on the Celestials.

  Which means…. Anna stopped. Too afraid to finish her thoughts.

  Anna stumbles out of the room. Aiden and Ozn called out to her, but none of it reached her ears.

  No, it ’t be. Eight hundred years couldn’t have passed! Pain surged through Abaddon’s head as memories of his defeat came rushing ba so vividly, he could feel the cold s digging into his arms, the burning gaze of his horrified subjects, and the weight of the Celestial silently judging him from above.

  (Abaddon, for all the sins you’ve itted, everything you love. Your family, your kingdom, and your ambition will end.)

  Sedna, Eris, and Orcus loomed over his kingdom, bathing the entire try in atic lights. Four humanoid silhouettes floated in the sky, three of them standing perfectly in the ter of each celestial.

  “Yant bastards.” Abaddon growl. He tried to lunge forward, but the s digging into his skin yanked him back to the pole he was tied to. “You think you look down on me just because you reside in the heavens?! I will surpass you one day! I will reach you!”

  (The only thing you’ll ever reach is our shadow.)

  The three celestials’ bodies glhter and brighter until the atic glow turns into a blinding radiant light that washes over the entire kingdom scorg everything in its path. Screams of pain and fear filled Abaddon’s ears as, one by one; his citizen was disied.

  “How dare you do this to my people! My Kingdom!!” Abaddon roared at the heavens. The light melted the flesh off his body and ripped the muscles off his bone. “I will reach you!” Abaddon screamed, the blistering pain driving him mad. He reaches through the light, his arm swiftly turning into ashes. “I will reach you!” He gargled out of his melted mouth. “I will reac-“

  “Anna!!” Aiden shouted, snapping Anna out of her mind. She found herself vulsing in the snow, her mind fading away. “That ’t…. ’t be… that….” Broken words came out iween desperate gasps for air.

  Aiden scoops his daughter in his hands. “Anna! You o breathe!” He shouted, but none of his words reached his daughter. Anna's vision grew darker and more clouded until, eventually everything faded.

  .

  .

  .

  O memory visited Anna’s fading mind. One of Abaddon's oldest memories. Before he was a king, before he roud warrior, he was just a boy abandoned ao die along with the other dregs of society.

  His gaunt body was tossed into a massive pit filled with the dead and the dying. Weak and on the verge of death all Abadon could do was stare at the bright blue sky and wait for his end.

  “My lord!” someone cried out. A silhouette of a womaoward the edge of the pit. “You o get up! Please, you need, you have to, you must rise!” The woman’s voice rang through Abaddon’s foggy mind. He crawled toward her using what little energy he had left to climb up the pit.

  “That’s it, my lord! Rise! Rise!” Abaddon’s heart races. He could feel himself growing stronger and faster the higher he climbed.

  “Rise! Rise! Rise!” The woman’s plead turned into a fervorous t as more people joined her side.

  Abaddos out a roar as he leaps out of the pit and into a blinding light that engulf his entire being. “Rise, my lord.” The woman’s voice was fraught with love. “And cims what rightfully yours?” The light faded, and Anna found herself lying in a hospital bed, reag for the ceiling light. In the er of her eyes, she spotted Olive sitting by her bedside.

  “Thank goodness you’re awake.” Olive grabs her daughter, pulling her into a tight embrace. “The doctor told me you were fine, but I was so worried.” Olive squeezes her daughter harder, afraid if she lets go, she will vanish.

  “I told you to be careful! Olive shouted, tears streaming down her face.”

  “Right,” Anna said weakly, her eyes downcast. Olive pulled away from Anna, surprised to see her daughter look so defeated.

  Anna has always been a prideful and eic girl. Evehe doctor told her there was no cure for her siess, she proudly procimed she would find one.

  “Anna.” Olive stopped and bit her lip. Initially, she pnned on reprimanding her for not properly taking care of herself. But now she didn’t have the heart to do it when her little girl was so depressed.

  “The headmaster has already finished your paperwork. He said you go to css whenever you recover.

  “Okay,” Anna said, still looking at the ground. The room fell silent as Olive sought a way to cheer up her daughter.

  “Um.” Olive’s chair scraped the floor as she got up. I’ll get the doctor a her know you’re awake.

  Anna nodded her head and watched as Olive left the room. With nothing but deafening silence apanying her, eventually, her thoughts ed her.

  I lost everything: my people, my kingdom, and even my body.

  Anna's body trembles as she chuckles madly to herself.

  “Do you think this is enough to stop me?!” Anna shouted at the heavens in the distance she could see a small green light in the night sky.

  Please, my lord, you o rise. The woman’s voice echoes in Anna’s head.

  “I don’t know why or how I’m alive, but just like how I crawled out of that grave all those years ago, I’ll rise once more; from downfall.”